Wedge.



G. CHURCH.

WEDGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1914.

1,209,262. Patented Dec.19,1916.

GEORGE CHURCH, OF AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

WEDGE.

mosses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed January 17, 1914. Serial No. 812,777.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonen CHURCH, a subjectof Great Britain and Ireland, residing at No. 6 Haslett street, EdenTerrace, in the city of Auckland, Province of Auckland, and in theDominion of New Zealand, general dealer, have invented a new and usefulWedge, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wedges and more particularly tothat class of wedges designed for the use of timbermen and others forsplitting timber.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, cheap, durable andeffective wedge capable of exerting great power and of being readily andeffectively driven in crooked and other timber, now frequently rejected,on account of its intense tenacity.

In carrying out my invention I impart to the construction of the wedge,a combination of a taper along both edges, as well as along the twofaces, thus forming a long taper on all four sides, preferably extendingthe entire length of the wedge. A longitudinal twist or wind preferablyextending the entire length of the wedge, also the rounded corners ofsame preferably extending the entire length of the wedge andprogressively decreasing in radius toward the point.

I attain these objects by the improved construction and shape given tothe wedge which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in whichFigure 1 is a front view showing the face of the wedge, constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the edge ofthe wedge. Fig. 3 isan underview of the wedge projected from Fig. 1.

The wedge may be formed of metal or' parts the head, thus indicating thelongitudinal twist or wind imparted to the construction of the wedge. InFig. 8 CCGC shows the rounded corners of the wedge. The curved linesABAB in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the angles, corners or joinings of thefaces and edges of the wedge. It can be readily seen that the influenceof the twist in such a wedge when it is being driven in, in the usualmanner, by maul or other tool, tends to cause the embedded portion ofthe wedge to turn progressively around in a direction transverse to theoriginal line of cleavage and the rounded corners and tapers allow thisto be done, thus producing a powerful reinforced action and rendingstrain.

The improved wedge has distinct advantages. over the ordinary wedge,even if used alone, but when used in conjunction with the ordinary wedgeand they are driven alternately, its utility is very great, for thefollowing reasons The improved wedge has a great tendency by itsprogressive transverse action at the point to increase the power at thepoint and at the bottom of the substance under operation, whereas theordinary wedge has the greatest power at the head of the wedge, or atthe top of the substance under operation, so that the effect of thewedges being used in conjunction, is to give a combined action, similarto and approaching to, the action of folding wedges when they are drivenfrom both ends.

. It is to be understood that I do not strictly confine myself to theexact form or dimensions thereof, as long as I adhere to the principlesof my invention as herein set forth, variations of taper, twist andsize, are necessary to meet the specific requirements of the varioussubstances that are to be split, according to their tenacity orstrength.

Having described the nature and objects of the invention what I claim isA wedge to which a longitudinal twist has been imparted through itswhole length.

Dated this eighth day of December, A. D.

GEORGE CHURCH. Witnesses:

Gno. A. GRIFFIN, T. J. STEVENS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. G.

